ah ah ah ah, this is dw news live from berlin tonight, freedom and fighting in ukraine a nation's independence day, marred by war ukrainians, warned to avoid public celebrations for fear of russian attacks and on the front lines. keeps forces struggle to hold back a russian advance. president zalinski says that his country will never give up the

fight and that as the human cost mount more than 5000 ukrainian civilians have died nearly 8000 have been injured to night. i'll look back at 6 months of russia's brutal war in ukraine. also coming up holds of closed on this election day in angola. will the left wing ruling in p l. a party be able to hold on to power amid claims that it has squandered? the countries oil well ah, i'm bring gov. it's good to have you with this. and we start tonight with breaking news from ukraine. ukrainian president zalinski says at least 15 people have died in a rush, an air strike on a train station in the central part of the country. this attack on a day laden with both hope in sorrow to day is independence day. the national

holiday marking independence from the former soviet union today also marks 6 months of the russian invasion. now in a moment, we're going to have a report on a nation that was scheduled to celebrate freedom before a war. got in the way 1st that we want to get the d w's mateus burling or he is in keep so we've got this report mathias on this attack on a train station in the central part of the country. what more can you tell us? yeah, we've just heard that 15 people were killed and several dozens wounded in that attack . now today is a day where many people have expected such attacks will happen possibly even on the capital of key if this has not happened so far. but we've also heard that quite a few rockets have been intercepted by air defense by ukrainian and defense and southern possible that some were meant for here for the, for the government buildings that russia has threatened to attack or that at least

some russian or propagandists have threatened to attack and we've also seen rockets come down in other parts of the country in the more weston kaminsky region . and also in hark if we've heard about explosions. so it's clear that russia is sending a signal out, they stay and it is that and that people have suffered from russian attacks again in different parts of the country. ok mathias stand by this attack comes, as we said earlier on this independence day in ukraine, celebrations were banned in the capital. keith for fears of a russian attack. we have this report now on how ukrainians are finding ways to show their resistance. russian tanks aligned up in the ukranian capital the message. this is the only way russian military equipment will appear and give burnt and destroyed. it was unusually quiet as ukrainians mom that

independence day in the capitol. occasionally added warnings disrupted the silence . but the mood in the city is defined, we had as a precise and as ukraine that as i'm very proud of our country easily could i, you know, i'm glad that we came back from europe some where we had fled to, to celebrate here. but now on this day with our fellow citizens somewhat lately, i believe victory will come dates if it's a special day for me today. if will ensure, i feel nothing, no fear. i traveled almost a 100 kilometers here from near keith. nothing scares me to do so you just have to do it in april and, and it's a holiday after all, it was filter food, them. i am president. while it amused lensky released a pre recorded message, wait, evolve to fight until the end wasn't here with anyone. at has to sell anything.

what for us at the end of the war? will you cite piece? now we say victory, then we won't look for a mutual understanding was a terrorist yet got even though we understand the russian language. if you came to defend lecoq while killing thousands of people, you came to liberate elizabeth, or any shamela. what else? we finally became united zera's customer and you nation emerge on february 24th at bouy. i am the ne, not gourne for me, but reborn. a nation that did not cry scream or get scared me. when that did not run away, he did not give up and did not forget. the president and 1st lady also visited a memorial to the soldiers killed in the conflict. meanwhile ukrainian troops in the east are locked in a grinding war of attrition with the russian army unless he is bellinger, still with his mother,

he is on this independence to day. we're talking about a possible war of attrition. now 6 months into this conflict, is there anything for ukrainians to celebrate while this was for tristan has been going on for several months now and the fear is going to be a war of exhaustion actually. and of course then many worries occur. how long will the west sustain its support to ukraine, et cetera. ukraine is making, of course, sometimes even spectacular strikes against russian ammunition depots or supply infrastructures. we've seen these strikes on crimea. we have seen several strikes in the southern region, mainly in the south where ukraine was able to take out, seemingly big ammunition dumps, which very spectacular explosions, etc. so ukraine is in a better position now than it was 3 weeks ago

a 3 months ago. when it was just pounded by this, these, this russian pi a power that was 10 times people estimated at the time higher than the ukranian. but still, we are not seeing any territorial or significant territorial gains by the ukrainians that have been able already a few months ago to drive back the russians from some of the positions that were very close to the cities of hockey and nick mc alive. and also of course, the retreat from the key area, but since then things are really grinding lease load. the russian advance is also slow, but it is consistent. so we, it doesn't look like there is going to be a fast turn anytime soon in this month. we have heard before and during this war, particularly for moultry nationalist invoice should that, that ukraine is not even a real country. what has the russian invasion,

what is it done to strengthen ukrainian identity while that's not only true national, this is also put in who has said that i am yes. clearly miscalculated, of course, the ukrainians saw themselves as a nation before what it has done is that it has further consolidated the feeling of the nation and may be also the feeling of a nation that is united. i mean, you can be a nation and you can be quarreling all over with everybody the other with the younger and their easton. as with the western, is the russian speakers with the ukranian speakers and i think after this 24th of february, what has been diluted is this may be mistrust of groups against each other. there was a process that was already on the way, at least since 2014, but also maybe since the 1919 it's been accelerating over the time. but the to the

24th of february has really boosted this feeling of unity year. and people perceive themselves as more united than before. he debbie's, when he is really good with the latest to night on this independence day in he was so far, ukraine has been spared, that feared massive invasion by the russian military. the w william bluecross takes a look back at how the war started and had some of its major turning points. after months of speculation, warnings, fears and a massive troop build up on 3 sides of ukraine. russian president vladimir putin finally revealed his deadly intentions on february 24th. first, let's look at how things were on the eve of the war. now russia already occupied the crimean peninsula in the south, in 2014, and at the same time helped separatists take control of part of ukraine's eastern

don. this region. now in that conflict, the united nations estimates 14000 civilians had been killed in the years since now starting february 24th putin launched a full scale invasion of ukraine by land, by sea, and by air. the russian leader claims the ukrainian government has committed crimes against russian speaking ukrainians. but outside russia, the war seen as a desperate effort to stop ukraine's further integration with the west, which putin views as a threat to his power. now in the 1st stage of the war until around the beginning of april, russian forces pounded the capital key and other major urban centers like hockey, vin, maria polk. entire civilian areas were flattened, millions of people fled to neighboring countries or to ukraine, somewhat safer western region. but russia under estimated ukraine's resistance and its military couldn't establish air superiority, it tried, but failed to surround keith and decapitate ukraine's democratically elected

government. so after several weeks of little progress from the north of the country, russian commanders ordered a withdrawal to concentrate their firepower on the east. that is the wars 2nd face . ukrainian troops are outmanned and outgunned, and they were forced to steadily retreat, allowing russian forces to consolidate gains on the ground. now what you see here doesn't mean that russia has full control of these areas. what we can say is that in the south and the east is where russia has advanced the most and desert, some level of administrative control. it's these areas that have seen the heaviest fighting. and now we're in the 3rd face. ukraine says it's fighting back with the help of us and other western weapons. both sides have suffered tremendous losses, though it's impossible to put a precise figure on that. same goes for the civilian toll which the united nations officially puts at $13000.00 killed and wounded. but they acknowledge it's likely a gross under cat now is unclear what putin's end game is here as the war becomes

one of attrition. whether ukraine has the strength to push back against russian advances. whether russia has the resources to establish itself as an occupying power. and whether the winter ahead will freeze fighting and force some kind of deal. there was d. w. william glue croft there. i'm join l by maria of diva. she is a security analyst based in her keep in the northeast of ukraine when russian troops attacked her hometown early in this war. she started collecting evidence of possible war crimes and she committed herself to fighting russian dis information. maria, it's good to have you with us tonight. you posted a video on earlier today from the center of steve on this ukrainian independence day and it got our attention. let's take a look at it before they raise and put in was saying that the russian thanks will be on the streets of here in just several days. well,

here is the main street in key, appreciate it. and here are ross, and then term of arctic weapons and destroyed by ukraine. an armed forces and thousands of people in key are now here make in celsius in front of the destroyed russian military vehicles. maria, it is clear that you think that ukraine has won the battle. i wonder how can you be sure that russia will not win this war? the battle is not all were unfortunately for your grain, and we have to be prepared and be are prepared for a long war. the people i have been speaking today with the english arctic, the heart of keep in mind on square. all of them say that ukraine's goal is to get full territorial control of the temporal occupied territories. and that means that that war is not over for us and they just continue. but what has

changed and what does this mean? this ok, so to say installation or exhibition or destroyed russian military vehicles in key . what it means for us, ukraine. yes, it is the demonstration that they put in the goal. he has put it while he began this invasion on the 24th of february. we're not it shift, he did not achieve anything of the primarily was. and on the other hand, it shows us that ukraine and troops were able to resist and fight effectively. because many people included in the rest of the doubt in that ukraine. an army will be able to do so really let me speak to you, you as a ukrainian citizen. when you look back at the past 6 months of this more, how has your life been changed?

my personal life has changed completely before the war. i was an analyst, an expert, mainly working from home and right in research papers desk work as if you would imagine that ordinary expert will do. and from time to time, you know, doing training and going into conferences and this war, turn me into some kind of what correspondence? because now i have where the helmet, the armor and go to the front lines to show the will, the, what is happening in ukraine and what russia is doing to my country it, let me pick up on that. i know you made many videos over the past 6 months, feel me the aftermath of russian attacks filming ukrainian troops. has there been a particular setting or, or situation that has stayed with you the, the one thing happened just recently. it was in harkey region near my home

city. there is a small town of to waive and rochester all the cultural center there. with the as 300 truck gets me styles and people of shelter in the basement of the cultural center. and 3 people called inside and we didn't know if they're alive or not. and the rescue continued throughout the night. and one of the rescuers was held by the actually the cause of the woman which was there under the rubble. and then there was the scene when the rescuers found the crust or the and that they said, he seen the husband and i talked to him and he said that they the couple had 2 children. and he didn't know how to tell them what has happened to them either.

yeah, it's, it's almost impossible to imagine what that must be like. are you worried as the months turn into a year maybe longer have an air raid sirens going off at the same time? you have people still taking their children to school going to cafes. are you worried that this, this dangerous dichotomy of normal sea and war time life will get settled in 4 ukrainian, such as yourself? this is a question. i am asking the people in the forefront in that branches and what they say me, the soul just they say we are fighting here for other people in your grain to have their normal lives. the most important scene for you, great nance and elsewhere in the world is that please do not forget that this is a war going on and this is the sovereign state being attacked by the enemy. and

while you do not forget about that and continue support in and providing that funds and all the other, how that is that the grain gets you grain will be able to fight or the end to resist this aggression. maria of diva, we appreciate you taking the time to share your insights and your personal stories on this very important day for you crate. thank you. thank you. thank you. well, the german government has agreed on a package of new measures intended to counter a predicted increase in corona virus cases later this year. it includes plants for stricter mask rules on trains and plains, but it leaves most decisions on imposing tougher restrictions up to the individual german states. there are 16 in the package which still has to be passed by parliament rules out further lock downs or school closures. the countries help

minister you see right there karl lauterbach says that the rules will help the country be better prepared for a new way of infections that he expects this coming all of them. and for more now, i'm joined by our political correspondent, hons bron hines. is there any public support for these new anti coven measures? here in germany. people aren't talking about coven, like they once did because they're not talking so much about it. the summer is to be thank to in the sense, but yes, there is public support. the most recent pulse show that at least half the population support measures being imposed. several people about a 3rd of people. so think that the measures that are envisioned, envisioned are not strict enough or not strong enough. and i think the expectation is that once the weather turns cold ones, the number of infections increases which is being predicted all over the world.

basically, then the support for these measures will increase further. in where would these rules leave germany in comparison to other european countries on the face of it at the, at 1st glance, these measures are more strict than measures imposed by most other european countries. especially the mosque, amanda, it is something that many other countries have been avoiding. and then there are the possibilities for the german federal states to impose much structure restrictions. still, if you look at other countries in europe, many of them are only now starting to think about this because after the some period, governments are now starting to get back to work as it were. and there are several countries, denmark, for instance, austria that have set up various scenarios for the fall and winter period where they have measures that can be imposed in

a kind of staged manner. this is similar to what german federal states are like. ah, possibly going to do when the need arises. but no one so far has imposed the kinds of restrictions that germany has now envisage in envisaged. yeah, it's a good point to me. what could be what they're planning could possibly happen. so do we know exactly when these new rules then would come into effect? yes, this, so the parliamentary press has to be followed. this has to go to the german parliament, both chambers and by mid september. in other words, in about 3 weeks time, that price is, should be completed and the measures are then set to take effect on the 1st of october. but nobody knows, obviously at the moment what the infection situation is going to be like at that time where the hospitals will already become on the stress becoming under stress. whether a number of infections will be increasing drastically. so what measures will in

fact be imposed at that time is completely open at the moment. yes, very good point. our political, corresponding hunts brunt with the latest to night. you're in berlin hunts. thank you. let's take a look now at some of the other stories that are making headlines this hour. you, as president biden is said to announce a partial cancellation of student debt, for some borrowers, a $10000.00 cut for those whose income falls below a $125000.00 a year. economies say that this will free up hundreds of billions of dollars for new consumer spending. you would secretary general antonio terrace, has condemned the resurgence of hostilities in the t gray region of northern ethiopia. he's calling for a resumption of peace talks. conflict between the central ethiopian government and to green forces flared up in 2020, leaving thousands dead. it calmed in recent months. both sides are blaming each other though for this renewed violence. south africans have gone on strike to

protest. the soaring cost of living and higher employment trade is called the marches. in, for tory, the pandemic has cost about 2000000 jobs across sell them. holes have closed and vote county is now under way in and go was most closely contested election since its transition to a multi party country and goldens are picking a new parliament and a new president of the governing party. the m p. a lay has been in power for nearly 5 decades for the 1st time. it is facing serious competition. poverty, inflation, and corruption have been the main campaign issues. in this former portuguese count . earlier we spoke with our correspondent adria increase shoes and as this update from outside a polling station in the capitol the want. well, it's been a quiet and peaceful day so far,

but make no mistake. you can feel the tension and kind of excitement in the air here because it's going to be the most competitive election in the history of the country, especially in the urban areas in luanda. this is a strong holds of the opposition party, and a lot of young people are living in many we talk to. they are very keen to see a change. you mentioned it earlier. the governing party has been in power for almost 50 years. angola is the, the biggest oil producer in africa, yet the oil wealth hasn't trickled down to the majority of the population. there's massive youth unemployment here, and many of the young people who want to see change. on the other hand, the m. p l a. the governing party still has a lot of supporters in the rural areas in particular. so it's going to be a tight raise and some civil society organization have raised the alamba already before the elections about how free and fair these elections are going to be. and we have one the election of several with us ursula dinner. if i language who has been observing the elections today, he's a member of the church and that's the civil society organization. it's a sinner. how is the day been going for you?

you've been to very a lot of polling stations or what have you seen? are you happy? gas ha, ha, ha ha ha! with what have seen saw on the we are waiting. and of right now we are just counting her their ballot saw. we are waiting to see from camera. the results, the full will when i hope that to the best should, should the wind the elections. i think aversion each one of their political part but its campaign. so now report as went and there was site who will be the winner. some people already said before the elections that we will not really see a free and fair competition. we have a very small number of electron of service. for example, less than 2000. we're allowed for more than $10000.00 polling stations. there's no free media here and also some are saying that the electoral commission is still to some extent controlled by the government. do you agree on that? yes, so some extent of course not on the government because we have also the members from

very hard up their position parties who are part of these sydney but of yellow the, the president and they're important members of these electoral commission belong today a ruling party. so that's why people are saying that these are electoral commission is not to really independent as who they you are african union just well, advice to members that we should to build up and move well we called solid electra reformation, so far, we said that things have been quite peaceful, but some are wanting that this could change when the results are announced. how high do you think the chances that we see protests after that? yeah, we helped out tomorrow. because who has the civil society on the chase?

we are always asking for politicians that should accept the results, but obviously we hope that today the counting will be 1st saw that to obviously people will accept to what the outcome. but we hope that terry won't have trouble. thank you, said latina there was, audrey creech, the reporting from angola is a dw news. i'll be back at the top of the hour. with more warnings followed by the day, hope to see the ah, with ah!

with who entered the conflict zone, confronting the powerful 18 months after the violence on the capitol hill. it's

clear that you have to ma chrissy was in greater danger than previously believe my guess this week from tommy david from writer and columnist for the atlantic magazine. he says the stakes were and still are frightening. com. so next on d w o . on this day it's been 6 months since russia started on for us to talk on the summer and name on you crate . we are here. we talk to people on the ground, to politicians, we shed light events, and that consequences 6 months that have changed ukraine on the world. all homes brought to you by g w. music

15 years ago. the intuition gathering of peace and cooperation becomes the scene of a horrible tragedy. arab terrors, armed with sub machine guns, went to the headquarters of the israeli team and immediately killed one man. and that this will be the last time i saw in the night. they're all gone out. i witnesses experienced the terrible events and this the world should not forget the long shadow of the 1972 olympic massacre. start september 3rd on d. w. 18 months after the violence on capitol hill. it's clear that us democracy was in greater danger than previously believe testimony to the january 6th committee described the craze. donald trump grappling with his own secret service, determined to lead his armed supporters to congress and overturn joe biden's election victory. america's political system.